Fluid ejection device

ABSTRACT

A fluid ejection device includes a fluid ejection unit that ejects a fluid and an ejection control unit that controls ejection of the fluid. A fluid container accommodates the fluid supplied to the fluid ejection unit. A pressure adjustment unit adjusts an inner pressure of the fluid container such that the inner pressure gets closer to a target pressure than a first threshold value. The ejection control unit has first and second ejection modes. In the first ejection mode, when the inner pressure is closer to the target pressure than a second threshold value separated from the target pressure farther than the first threshold value, the ejection control unit receives a demand for ejection of fluid. In the second ejection mode, even when the inner pressure is not closer to the target pressure than the second threshold value, the ejection control unit receives a demand for ejection of fluid.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2014-080826 filed, on Apr. 10, 2014. The content of the aforementionedapplication is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a fluid ejection device.

2. Related Art

A fluid ejection device for medical purposes that can incise and exciseliving tissue by ejecting a fluid has been developed.

JP-A-2013-213422 is an example of the related art.

In the fluid ejection device, in a case where a certain amount of timeis required so as to increase pressure to an amount of pressure at whicha fluid can be ejected, a user waits idly, and has difficulty inefficiently expediting an operation or the like. In contrast, even whena fluid pressure is separated from a target pressure, the fluid isrequired to be ejected while a control operation is performed so as toreduce an amount of time taken to the ejection of the fluid.

SUMMARY

An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to be able to eject afluid while performing a control operation of reducing an amount of timetaken to the ejection of the fluid, even when a fluid pressure isseparated from a target pressure.

A fluid ejection device according to an aspect of the inventionincludes: a fluid ejection unit that ejects a fluid; an ejection controlunit that controls the ejection of the fluid from the fluid ejectionunit; a fluid container that accommodates the fluid to be supplied tothe fluid ejection unit; and a pressure adjustment unit that adjusts aninner pressure of the fluid container in such a manner that the innerpressure of the fluid container gets closer to a target pressure than afirst threshold value for the inner pressure of the fluid container. Theejection control unit has a first ejection mode and a second ejectionmode as ejection modes, and in the first ejection mode, when the innerpressure of the fluid container is closer to the target pressure than asecond threshold value separated from the target pressure further thanthe first threshold value, the ejection control unit receives a demandfor the ejection of the fluid, and in the second ejection mode, evenwhen the inner pressure of the fluid container is not closer to thetarget pressure than the second threshold value, the ejection controlunit receives a demand for the ejection of the fluid.

Other features of the invention will be made apparent by the descriptionof this specification and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like numbers reference like elements.

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the configuration of a fluid ejectiondevice as an operation scalpel according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating the configuration of the fluid ejectiondevice configured to include two pumps.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating the configuration of the pumpaccording to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating the pump with a different configuration.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of apulsation generator according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating the shape of an inlet channel.

FIG. 7 is a graph illustrating a transition of an inner pressure of afluid container when a pressure control operation is performed.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a pressure adjustment control operation.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an ejection control operation.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

At least the following facts are apparent from this specification andthe accompanying drawings.

An aspect of the invention is directed to a fluid ejection deviceincluding: a fluid ejection unit that ejects a fluid; an ejectioncontrol unit that controls the ejection of the fluid from the fluidejection unit; a fluid container that accommodates the fluid to besupplied to the fluid ejection unit; and a pressure adjustment unit thatadjusts an inner pressure of the fluid container in such a manner thatthe inner pressure of the fluid container gets closer to a targetpressure than a first threshold value for the inner pressure of thefluid container. The ejection control unit has a first ejection mode anda second ejection mode as ejection modes, and in the first ejectionmode, when the inner pressure of the fluid container is closer to thetarget pressure than a second threshold value separated from the targetpressure further than the first threshold value, the ejection controlunit receives a demand for the ejection of the fluid, and in the secondejection mode, even when the inner pressure of the fluid container isnot closer to the target pressure than the second threshold value, theejection control unit receives a demand for the ejection of the fluid.

In this manner, in the first ejection mode, when the inner pressure ofthe fluid container is adjusted so as to get closer to the targetpressure than the first threshold value, and the inner pressure iscloser to the target pressure than the second threshold value, theejection control unit receives a demand for the ejection of the fluid,and thereby it is possible to reduce an amount of time taken from thereception of the demand for the ejection of the fluid to the ejection ofthe fluid. In contrast, in the second ejection mode, even when the innerpressure of the fluid container is adjusted so as to get closer to thetarget pressure than the first threshold value, and the inner pressureis not closer to the target pressure than the second threshold value,the ejection control unit receives a demand for the ejection of thefluid, and thereby it is possible to eject the fluid even at a pressureseparated from the target pressure.

It is preferable that the fluid ejection device further includes areporting device configured to report that the ejection control unitreceives a demand for the ejection of the fluid in the second ejectionmode.

In this manner, when the ejection control unit receives a demand for theejection of the fluid in the second ejection mode, it is possible toreport that the fluid is ejected in the second ejection mode, andthereby a user can recognize that the fluid is ejected in a state wherethe inner pressure of the fluid container is not closer to the targetpressure than the first threshold value.

It is preferable that the fluid ejection device further includes aswitch that switches an ejection mode between the first ejection modeand the second ejection mode.

In this manner, a user can clearly switch the ejection mode between thefirst ejection mode and the second ejection mode.

In the fluid ejection device, it is preferable that, when the innerpressure of the fluid container is not closer to the target pressurethan the second threshold value, the ejection mode is switched to thesecond ejection mode.

In this manner, when the inner pressure of the fluid container is notcloser to the target pressure than the second threshold value, it ispossible to switch the ejection mode to the second ejection mode.

In the fluid ejection device, it is preferable that, after at least oneof an operation of filling the fluid ejection unit with the fluid, adeaeration operation of the fluid ejection unit, and a fluid ejectionintensity change operation of the fluid ejection unit is performed, theejection mode is switched to the second ejection mode.

In this manner, when the setting of the fluid ejection device ischanged, or an initial operation of the fluid ejection device isperformed, it is possible to eject the fluid in a trial mode bycontrolling the fluid ejection device in the second ejection mode.

In the fluid ejection device, it is preferable that, in a state wherethe inner pressure of the fluid container is lower than the targetpressure, when the inner pressure of the fluid container is separatedfrom the target pressure by the second threshold value or greater, thepressure adjustment unit performs a first pressure increase controloperation in which the pressure adjustment unit increases the innerpressure by reducing the inner volume of the fluid container by a firstamount, and when the inner pressure of the fluid container is closer tothe target pressure than the second threshold value, and is separatedfrom the target pressure by the first threshold value or greater, thepressure adjustment unit performs a second pressure increase controloperation in which the pressure adjustment unit increases the innerpressure by reducing the inner volume of the fluid container by a secondamount less than the first amount.

In this manner, when the inner pressure of the fluid container isseparated from the target pressure by the second threshold value orgreater, it is possible to increase the inner pressure to become closerto the target pressure by reducing the inner volume of the fluidcontainer by the first amount. In contrast, when the inner pressure ofthe fluid container is closer to the target pressure than the secondthreshold value, and is separated from the target pressure by the firstthreshold value or greater, it is possible to more finely increase theinner pressure by reducing the inner volume of the fluid container by asecond amount less than the first amount.

It is preferable that the fluid ejection device further includes aconnection channel that connects the fluid ejection unit and the fluidcontainer, and acts as a channel through which the fluid flows, and anopening and closing unit that is controlled to open and close theconnection channel by the pressure adjustment unit, and when theejection control unit receives a demand for the ejection of the fluid,the pressure adjustment unit controls the opening and closing unit toopen the connection channel, and stops the adjustment of the innerpressure of the fluid container.

In this manner, it is possible to supply the fluid to the fluid ejectionunit by opening the connection channel between the fluid ejection unitand the fluid container, and to eject the fluid by receiving the demandfor the ejection of the fluid.

In the fluid ejection device, it is preferable that, when the ejectioncontrol unit receives a demand for the ejection of the fluid, thepressure adjustment unit supplies the fluid to the fluid ejection unitby controlling the opening and closing unit to open the connectionchannel and reducing the inner volume of the fluid container by apredetermined amount each time.

In this manner, when the fluid is ejected from the fluid ejection unit,it is possible to send a predetermined amount of the fluid to the fluidejection unit without controlling the inner pressure of the fluidcontainer.

Embodiment

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention will be described withreference to the accompanying drawings. A fluid ejection deviceaccording to the embodiment can be used in various procedures such asthe cleaning or cutting of a fine object or structure, living tissue, orthe like; however, an example of the embodiment given in the followingdescription is the fluid ejection device suitable for use as anoperation scalpel to incise or excise living tissue. Accordingly, afluid used in the fluid ejecting device according to the embodiment iswater, physiologic saline, a predetermined fluid medicine, or the like.The drawings referenced in the following description are schematic viewsin which a portion or a member is vertically and horizontally scaleddifferently from an actual scale for illustrative purposes.

Entire Configuration

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the configuration of a fluid ejectiondevice 1 as an operation scalpel according to the embodiment. The fluidejection device 1 includes a pump 700 for supplying a fluid; a pulsationgenerator (equivalent to a fluid ejection unit) 100 that converts theform of the fluid supplied from the pump 700 into a pulsed flow, andejects a pulsed flow of the fluid; a drive control unit (equivalent toan ejection control unit) 600 that controls the fluid ejection device 1in cooperation with the pump 700; and a connection tube (equivalent to aconnection channel) 25 as a connection path through which the pump 700and the pulsation generator 100 are connected to each other, and thefluid flows.

The pulsation generator 100 includes a fluid chamber 501 thataccommodates the fluid supplied from the pump 700; a diaphragm 400 thatchanges the volume of the fluid chamber 501; and a piezoelectric element401 that vibrates the diaphragm. 400, all of which will be describedlater in detail.

The pulsation generator 100 includes a thin pipe-like fluid ejectiontube 200 that acts as a channel of the fluid discharged from the fluidchamber 501, and a nozzle 211 that is mounted on a tip end portion ofthe fluid ejection tube 200 and has a reduced channel diameter.

The pulsation generator 100 converts a form of the fluid into a pulsedflow and ejects a pulsed flow of the fluid at high speed via the fluidejection tube 200 and the nozzle 211 by driving the piezoelectricelement 401 in response to drive signals output from the drive controlunit 600, and changing the volume of the fluid chamber 501.

The drive control unit 600 and the pulsation generator 100 are connectedto each other via a control cable 630, and drive signals for driving thepiezoelectric element 401 are output from the drive control unit 600 andare transmitted to the pulsation generator 100 via the control cable630.

The drive control unit 600 and the pump 700 are connected to each othervia a communication cable 640, and the drive control unit 600 and thepump 700 transmit and receive various commands or data therebetweenaccording to a predetermined communication protocol such as a controllerarea network (CAN).

The drive control unit 600 receives signals from various switchesoperated by a practitioner who performs an operation using the pulsationgenerator 100, and controls the pump 700 or the pulsation generator 100via the control cable 630 or the communication cable 640.

The switches that input signals to the drive control unit 600 are apulsation generator start-up switch, an ejection intensity switchingswitch, a flushing switch, and the like (not illustrated).

The pulsation generator start-up switch (not illustrated) is a switchfor switching a state of ejection of the fluid from the pulsationgenerator 100 between an ejection mode and a non-ejection mode. When apractitioner who performs an operation using the pulsation generator 100operates the pulsation generator start-up switch (not illustrated), thedrive control unit 600 controls the pulsation generator 100 to eject thefluid or stop the ejection of the fluid in cooperation with the pump700. The pulsation generator start-up switch (not illustrated) can be aswitch configured to be operated by the practitioner's feet, or a switchthat is provided integrally with the pulsation generator 100 grasped bythe practitioner, and configured to be operated by the practitioner'shands or fingers.

The ejection intensity switching switch (not illustrated) is a switchfor changing the intensity of fluid ejection from the pulsationgenerator 100. When the ejection intensity switching switch (notillustrated) is operated, the drive control unit 600 controls thepulsation generator 100 and the pump 700 so as to increase and decreasethe intensity of fluid ejection.

The flushing switch (not illustrated) will be described later.

In the embodiment, a pulsed flow implies a flow of a fluid, a flowdirection of which is constant, and the flow rate or flow speed of whichis changed periodically or non-periodically. The pulsed flow may be anintermittent flow in which the flowing and stopping of the fluid arerepeated; however, since the flow rate or flow speed of the fluid ispreferably changed periodically or non-periodically, the pulsed flow isnot necessarily an intermittent flow.

Similarly, the ejection of a fluid in a pulsed form implies the ejectionof the fluid by which the flow rate or moving speed of an ejected fluidis changed periodically or non-periodically. An example of the pulsedejection is an intermittent ejection by which the ejection andnon-ejection of a fluid are repeated; however, since the flow rate ormoving speed of an ejected fluid is preferably changed periodically ornon-periodically, the pulsed ejection is not necessarily an intermittentejection.

When the driving of the pulsation generator 100 is stopped, that is,when the volume of the fluid chamber 501 is not changed, the fluidsupplied from the pump 700 as a fluid supply unit at a predeterminedpressure continuously flows out of the nozzle 211 via the fluid chamber501.

The fluid ejection device 1 according to the embodiment may beconfigured to include a plurality of the pumps 700.

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating the configuration of the fluid ejectiondevice 1 configured to include two pumps 700. In this case, the fluidejection device 1 includes a first pump 700 a and a second pump 700 b. Afirst connection tube 25 a, a second connection tube 25 b, theconnection tube 25, and a three way stopcock 26 form a connection pathwhich connects the pulsation generator 100 and the first pump 700 a andthe pulsation generator 100 and the second pump 700 b, and through whichthe fluid flows.

The three way stopcock 26 is a valve configured to be able tocommunicate the first connection tube 25 a and the connection tube 25,or the second connection tube 25 b and the connection tube 25, andeither one of the first pump 700 a and the second pump 700 b isselectively used.

In this configuration, for example, when the first pump 700 a cannotsupply the fluid for unknown reasons such as a malfunction while beingselected and used, it is possible to continuously use the fluid ejectiondevice 1 and to minimize adverse effects associated with the non-supplyof the fluid from the first pump 700 a by switching the three waystopcock 26 so as to communicate the second connection tube 25 b and theconnection tube 25, and starting the supply of the fluid from the secondpump 700 b.

When the fluid ejection device 1 is configured to include a plurality ofthe pumps 700, but the pumps 700 are not required to be distinctivelydescribed, in the following description, the pumps 700 are collectivelyexpressed by the pump 700.

In contrast, when the plurality of pumps 700 are required to bedistinctively described, suffixes such as “a” and “b” are properly addedto reference sign 700 of the pump, and each of the pumps 700 isdistinctively expressed by the first pump 700 a or the second pump 700b. In this case, each configuration element of the first pump 700 a isexpressed by adding the suffix “a” to a reference sign of eachconfiguration element, and each configuration element of the second pump700 b is expressed by adding the suffix “b” to a reference sign of eachconfiguration element.

Pump

Subsequently, an outline of the configuration and operation of the pump700 according to the embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a schematicview illustrating the configuration of the pump 700 according to theembodiment.

The pump 700 according to the embodiment includes a pump control unit(equivalent to a pressure adjustment unit) 710; a slider 720; a motor730; a linear guide 740; and a pinch valve (equivalent to an opening andclosing unit) 750. The pump 700 is configured to have a fluid containermounting unit 770 for attachably and detachably mounting a fluidcontainer 760 that accommodates the fluid. The fluid container mountingunit 770 is formed so as to hold the fluid container 760 at a specificposition when the fluid container 760 is mounted thereon.

The following switches (which will be described later in detail) (notillustrated) input signals to the pump control unit 710: a sliderrelease switch; a slider set switch; a fluid supply ready switch; apriming switch; and a pinch valve switch.

In the embodiment, for example, the fluid container 760 is formed of amedical syringe configured to include a syringe 761 and a plunger 762.

In the fluid container 760, a protrusive cylinder-shaped opening 764 isformed in a tip end portion of the syringe 761. When the fluid container760 is mounted on the fluid container mounting unit 770, an end portionof the connection tube 25 is inserted into the opening 764, and a fluidchannel is formed from the inside of the syringe 761 to the connectiontube 25.

The pinch valve 750 is a valve that is provided on a path of theconnection tube 25, and opens and closes a fluid channel between thefluid container 760 and the pulsation generator 100.

The pump control unit 710 controls the opening and closing of the pinchvalve 750. When the pump control unit 710 opens the pinch valve 750, thefluid container 760 and the pulsation generator 100 communicate witheach other via the channel therebetween. When the pump control unit 710closes the pinch valve 750, the channel between the fluid container 760and the pulsation generator 100 is shut off.

In a state where the fluid container 760 is mounted on the fluidcontainer mounting unit 770, and the pinch valve 750 is opened, when theplunger 762 of the fluid container 760 moves in a direction(hereinafter, also referred to as a push-in direction) in which theplunger 762 is pushed into the syringe 761, the volume of a space(hereinafter, also referred to as a fluid accommodation portion 765) isreduced, the space being enveloped by an end surface of a gasket 763made of resin such as elastic rubber and mounted at the tip of theplunger 762 in the push-in direction, and an inner wall of the syringe761, and the fluid in the fluid accommodation portion 765 is dischargedvia the opening 764 of the tip end portion of the syringe 761. Theconnection tube 25 is filled with the fluid discharged via the opening764, and the discharged fluid is supplied to the pulsation generator100.

In contrast, in a state where the fluid container 760 is mounted on thefluid container mounting unit 770, and the pinch valve 750 is closed,when the plunger 762 of the fluid container 760 moves in the push-indirection, it is possible to reduce the volume of the fluidaccommodation portion 765, the fluid accommodating portion 765 beingenveloped by the gasket 763 mounted at the tip of the plunger 762 andthe inner wall of the syringe 761, and it is possible to increase thepressure of the fluid in the fluid accommodation portion 765.

The pump control unit 710 moves the slider 720 along a direction (in thepush-in direction and the opposite direction of the push-in direction)in which the plunger 762 moves in a state where the fluid container 760is mounted on the fluid container mounting unit 770, and the plunger 762moves in accordance with the movement of the slider 720.

Specifically, the slider 720 is attached to the linear guide 740 in sucha manner that a pedestal 721 of the slider 720 engages with a rail (notillustrated) formed linearly on the linear guide 740 along the slidedirection of the plunger 762. The linear guide 740 moves the pedestal721 of the slider 720 along the rail using power transmitted from themotor 730 driven by the pump control unit 710, and thereby the slider720 moves along the slide direction of the plunger 762.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the following sensors are provided along therail of the linear guide 740: a first limit sensor 741; a residue sensor742; a home sensor 743; and a second limit sensor 744.

All of the first limit sensor 741, the residue sensor 742, the homesensor 743, and the second limit sensor 744 are sensors for detectingthe position of the slider 720 that moves on the rail of the linearguide 740, and signals detected by these sensors are input to the pumpcontrol unit 710.

The home sensor 743 is a sensor used to determine an initial position(hereinafter, also referred to as a home position) of the slider 720 onthe linear guide 740. The home position is a position in which theslider 720 is held when the fluid container 760 is mounted or replaced.

The residue sensor 742 is a sensor for detecting the position(hereinafter, also referred to as a residual position) of the slider 720when the residue of the fluid in the fluid container 760 is less than orequal to a predetermined value while the slider 720 moves from the homeposition in the push-in direction of the plunger 762. When the slider720 reaches the residual position in which the residue sensor 742 isprovided, a predetermined alarm is output to an operator (a practitioneror an assistant). The fluid container 760 currently in use is replacedwith a new fluid container 760 at an appropriate time determined by theoperator. Alternatively, when the second pump 700 b having the sameconfiguration as that of the pump 700 (the first pump 700 a) isprepared, a switching operation is performed so as to supply the fluidfrom an auxiliary second pump 700 b to the pulsation generator 100.

The first limit sensor 741 indicates a limit position (hereinafter,referred to as a first limit position) in a movable range in which theslider 720 can move from the home position in the push-in direction ofthe plunger 762. When the slider 720 reaches the first limit position inwhich the first limit sensor 741 is provided, the residue of the fluidin the fluid container 760 is much less than the residue indicating thatthe slider 720 is present at the residual position, and a predeterminedalarm is output to the operator. In this case, the fluid container 760currently in use is also replaced with a new fluid container 760, or aswitching operation is also performed so as to supply the fluid from anauxiliary second pump 700 b.

In contrast, the second limit sensor 744 indicates a limit position(hereinafter, also referred to as a second limit position) in a movablerange in which the slider 720 can move from the home position in theopposite direction of the push-in direction of the plunger 762. When theslider 720 reaches the second limit position in which the second limitsensor 744 is provided, a predetermined alarm is output.

A touch sensor 723 and a pressure sensor 722 are mounted on the slider720.

The touch sensor 723 is a sensor for detecting whether the slider 720 isin contact with the plunger 762 of the fluid container 760.

The pressure sensor 722 is a sensor that detects the pressure of thefluid in the fluid accommodation portion 765 formed by the inner wall ofthe syringe 761 and the gasket 763, and outputs signals in response to adetected pressure.

When the pinch valve 750 is closed, and the slider 720 moves in thepush-in direction, and after the slider 720 comes into contact with theplunger 762, the pressure of the fluid in the fluid accommodationportion 765 increases to the extent that the slider 720 moves further inthe push-in direction.

In contrast, when the pinch valve 750 is opened, and the slider 720moves in the push-in direction, and even after the slider 720 comes intocontact with the plunger 762, the fluid in the fluid accommodationportion 765 flows out of the nozzle 211 of the pulsation generator 100via the connection tube 25, and thereby the pressure of the fluid in thefluid accommodation portion 765 increases to a certain level, but thepressure of the fluid does not increase even though the slider 720 movesfurther in the push-in direction.

The touch sensor 723 and the pressure sensor 722 input signals to thepump control unit 710.

A description to be given hereinafter is regarding a preparationoperation configured to include a process of mounting a fluid container760 filled with the fluid on the fluid container mounting unit 770; aprocess of supplying the fluid in the fluid container 760 to thepulsation generator 100; and a process of bringing the fluid ejectiondevice 1 into a state in which the pulsation generator 100 can eject thefluid in the form of a pulsed flow.

First, the operator inputs an ON signal of the slider release switch tothe pump control unit 710 by operating the slider release switch (notillustrated). Thus, the pump control unit 710 moves the slider 720 tothe home position.

The operator mounts the fluid container 760 connected to the connectiontube 25 in advance on the fluid container mounting unit 770. The syringe761 of the fluid container 760 is already filled with the fluid.

When the operator sets the connection tube 25 to the pinch valve 750,and then inputs an ON signal of the pinch valve switch (not illustrated)to the pump control unit 710 by operating the pinch valve switch, thepump control unit 710 closes the pinch valve 750.

Subsequently, the operator inputs an ON signal of the slider set switch(not illustrated) to the pump control unit 710 by operating the sliderset switch. Thus, the pump control unit 710 starts a control operationin such a manner that the slider 720 moves in the push-in direction andthe pressure of the fluid accommodated in the fluid accommodationportion 765 of the fluid container 760 reaches a predetermined targetpressure value.

Thereafter, when the operator inputs an ON signal of the fluid supplyready switch (not illustrated) to the pump control unit 710 by pushingthe fluid supply switch (not illustrated), and the pressure of the fluidin the fluid container 765 enters a specific range (hereinafter, alsoreferred to as a rough window) for the target pressure value, the pumpcontrol unit 710 is brought into a fluid suppliable state in which thefluid is allowed to be supplied from the pump 700 to the pulsationgenerator 100.

When the pump control unit 710 is in a fluid suppliable state, and theoperator inputs an ON signal of the priming switch to the pump controlunit 710 by operating the priming switch, the pump control unit 710starts a priming process. The priming process is a process by which afluid channel from the fluid container 760 to the connection tube 25 andto a fluid ejection opening 212 of the pulsation generator 100 is filledup with the fluid.

When the priming process starts, the pump control unit 710 opens thepinch valve 750, and starts moving the slider 720 in the push-indirection at the same time or substantially the same time (for example,a time gap of approximately several milliseconds or approximatelyseveral tens of milliseconds) as when the pinch valve 750 is opened. Theslider 720 moves at a predetermined speed in such a manner that aconstant amount of the fluid per unit time is supplied from the fluidcontainer 760. The priming process is performed until a predeterminedamount of time required to complete the priming process has elapsed (orthe slider 720 moves by a predetermined distance), or until the operatorinputs an OFF signal of the priming switch (not illustrated) byoperating the priming switch.

Accordingly, a predetermined amount of the fluid in the fluid container765 is supplied at a predetermined flow speed (the amount of dischargeof the fluid per unit time) from the pump 700, the connection tube 25from the pinch valve 750 to the pulsation generator 100 is filled upwith the fluid, and the fluid chamber 501 of the pulsation generator100, the fluid ejection tube 200 and the like are filled up with thefluid. Air present in the connection tube 25 or the pulsation generator100 prior to the start of the priming process is released to theatmosphere via the nozzle 211 of the pulsation generator 100 as thefluid flows into the connection tube 25 or the pulsation generator 100.

The pump control unit 710 pre-stores the predetermined speed, thepredetermined distance, and the predetermined amount of time in relationto the movement of the slider 720 during the priming process.

As such, the priming process is completed.

Subsequently, when the operator inputs an ON signal of the flushingswitch (not illustrated) to the drive control unit 600 by operating theflushing switch, the drive control unit 600 and the pump control unit710 start a deaeration process.

The deaeriation process is a process by which air bubbles remaining inthe connection tube 25 or the pulsation generator 100 are discharged viathe nozzle 211 of the pulsation generator 100.

In the deaeriation process, in a state in which the pinch valve 750 isopened, the pump control unit 710 moves the slider 720 in the push-indirection at the predetermined speed in such a manner that a constantamount of the fluid per unit time is supplied from the fluid container760, and the fluid is supplied to the pulsation generator 100. The drivecontrol unit 600 drives the piezoelectric element 401 of the pulsationgenerator 100 in conjunction with the discharge of the fluid by the pump700, and thereby the pulsation generator 100 ejects the fluid.Accordingly, air bubbles remaining in the connection tube 25 or thepulsation generator 100 are discharged via the nozzle 211 of thepulsation generator 100. The deaeriation process is performed until apredetermined amount of time has elapsed (or the slider 720 moves by apredetermined distance), or until the operator inputs an OFF signal ofthe flushing switch (not illustrated) by operating the flushing switch.

The drive control unit 600 and the pump control unit 710 pre-store thepredetermined speed, the predetermined distance, and the predeterminedamount of time in relation to the movement of the slider 720 during thedeaeriation process.

When the deaeriation process is completed, the pump control unit 710closes the pinch valve 750, and detects the pressure of the fluidaccommodated in the fluid accommodation portion 765 of the fluidcontainer 760. The pump control unit 710 performs a control operation ofadjusting the position of the slider 720 in such a manner that thepressure reaches the target pressure value.

Thereafter, when the pressure of the fluid in the fluid container 765enters a specific range (a rough window) for the target pressure value,the pump control unit 710 is brought into a fluid ejectable state inwhich the fluid can be ejected in the form of a pulsed flow from thepulsation generator 100.

In this state, when the operator inputs an ON signal of the pulsationgenerator start-up switch (not illustrated) to the drive control unit600 by operating the pulsation generator start-up switch via the feet,the pump control unit 710 opens the pinch valve 750 in response tosignals transmitted from the drive control unit 600, and starts thesupply of the fluid to the pulsation generator 100 by moving the slider720 at a predetermined speed in the push-in direction at the same timeor substantially the same time (for example, a time gap of approximatelyseveral milliseconds or approximately several tens of milliseconds) aswhen the pinch valve 750 is opened. In contrast, the drive control unit600 generates a pulsed flow by starting the driving of the piezoelectricelement 401 and changing the volume of the fluid chamber 501.Accordingly, a pulsed flow of the fluid is ejected at a high speed viathe nozzle 211 at the tip of the pulsation generator 100.

Thereafter, when the operator inputs an OFF signal of the pulsationgenerator start-up switch (not illustrated) to the drive control unit600 by operating the pulsation generator start-up switch via the feet,the drive control unit 600 stops the driving of the piezoelectricelement 401. The pump control unit 710 stops the movement of the slider720 in response to signals transmitted from the drive control unit 600,and closes the pinch valve 750. As such, the pulsation generator 100stops the ejection of the fluid.

The pump 700 according to the embodiment is configured such that theslider 720 presses the fluid container 760 that is formed of a medicalsyringe configured to include the syringe 761 and the plunger 762;however, the pump 700 may be configured as illustrated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating the pump 700 with a differentconfiguration. The pump 700 illustrated in FIG. 4 has the followingconfiguration: the fluid container 760 (an infusion solution bag thataccommodates a fluid) is mounted in a pressurized chamber 800, and afterair supplied from a compressor 810 is regulated by a regulator 811, theair is pressure-fed into the pressurized chamber 800, and thereby thefluid container 760 is pressed.

When the pinch valve 750 is opened in a state where the fluid container760 is pressed by the pressurization of air in the pressurized chamber800, the fluid accommodated in the fluid accommodation portion 765 ofthe fluid container 760 flows out of the opening 764, and is supplied tothe pulsation generator 100 via the connection tube 25.

The air in the pressurized chamber 800 is released to the atmosphere bythe opening of an air vent valve 812. In a case where the pressure ofthe air in the pressurized chamber 800 exceeds a predetermined pressure,even when the air vent valve 812 is not opened, a safety valve 813 isopened, and thereby the air in the pressurized chamber 800 is releasedto the atmosphere.

The pump control unit 710 controls the compressor 810; the regulator811; the air vent valve 812; and the pinch valve 750, the control schemeof which is not illustrated in FIG. 4. The following sensors inputdetected output signals to the pump control unit 710: the pressuresensor 722 that detects the pressure of the fluid in the fluid container760, and the residue sensor 742 that detects the residue of the fluid inthe fluid container 760.

When the pump 700 with this configuration is adopted, it is possible toincrease the amount of supply of the fluid which can be supplied to thepulsation generator 100 per unit time. Since the pulsation generator 100can supply the fluid at a high pressure, and an infusion solution bagthat accommodates the fluid is used as the fluid container 760 as it is,it is possible to prevent the fluid from being contaminated. Thepulsation generator 100 can continuously supply the fluid withoutgenerating pulsation.

In addition, in the embodiment, the drive control unit 600 is providedseparately from the pump 700 and the pulsation generator 100; however,the drive control unit 600 may be provided integrally with the pump 700.

When the practitioner performs an operation using the fluid ejectiondevice 1, the practitioner grasps the pulsation generator 100.Accordingly, the connection tube 25 up to the pulsation generator 100 ispreferably as flexible as possible. For this reason, a flexible thintube is used as the connection tube 25, and a fluid discharge pressureof the pump 700 is preferably set to a low pressure in a pressure rangein which the fluid can be supplied to the pulsation generator 100. Forthis reason, the discharge pressure of the pump 700 is set toapproximately 0.3 atm (0.03 MPa) or less.

In particular, in a case where a malfunction of an apparatus may lead toa serious accident, for example, for brain surgery, it is necessary toprevent the cutting of the connection tube 25 from causing the ejectionof the fluid at a high pressure, and also, for this reason, thedischarge pressure of the pump 700 is required to be set to a lowpressure.

Pulsation Generator

Subsequently, the structure of the pulsation generator 100 according tothe embodiment will be described.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of thepulsation generator 100 according to the embodiment. In FIG. 5, thepulsation generator 100 includes a pulse generation unit that generatesthe pulsation of the fluid, and is connected to the fluid ejection tube200 having a connection channel 201 as a channel through which the fluidis discharged.

In the pulsation generator 100, an upper case 500 and a lower case 301are screwed together with four fixation screws 350 (not illustrated)while the respective facing surfaces thereof are bonded to each other.The lower case 301 is a cylindrical member having a flange, and one endportion of the lower case 301 is sealed with a bottom plate 311. Thepiezoelectric element 401 is provided in an inner space of the lowercase 301.

The piezoelectric element 401 is a stack-type piezoelectric element, andacts as an actuator. One end portion of the piezoelectric element 401 isfirmly fixed to the diaphragm 400 via an upper plate 411, and the otherend portion is firmly fixed to an upper surface 312 of the bottom plate311.

The diaphragm 400 is made of a circular disc-like thin metal plate, anda circumferential edge portion of the diaphragm 400 is firmly fixed to abottom surface of a concave portion 303 in the lower case 301 whilebeing in close contact with the bottom surface of the concave portion303. When drive signals are input to the piezoelectric element 401 thatacts as a volume change unit, the piezoelectric element 401 changes thevolume of the fluid chamber 501 via the diaphragm 400 through theextension and contraction thereof.

A reinforcement plate 410 is provided in such a manner as to be stackedon an upper surface of the diaphragm 400, and is made of a circulardisc-like thin metal plate having an opening at the center thereof.

The upper case 500 has a concave portion formed in a center portion ofthe surface facing the lower case 301, and the fluid chamber 501 is arotator-shaped space formed by this concave portion and the diaphragm400 and filled with the fluid. That is, the fluid chamber 501 is a spaceenveloped by a sealing surface 505 and an inner circumferential sidewall 501 a of the concave portion of the upper case 500, and thediaphragm 400. An outlet channel 511 is drilled in an approximatelycenter portion of the fluid chamber 501.

The outlet channel 511 passes through the outlet channel tube 510 fromthe fluid chamber 501 to an end portion of an outlet channel tube 510provided in such a manner as to protrude from one end surface of theupper case 500. A connection portion between the outlet channel 511 andthe sealing surface 505 of the fluid chamber 501 is smoothly rounded soas to reduce fluid resistance.

In the embodiment (refer to FIG. 5), the fluid chamber 501 has asubstantially cylindrical shape having sealed opposite ends; however,the fluid chamber 501 may have a conical shape, a trapezoidal shape, ahemispherical shape, or the like in a side view, and the shape of thefluid chamber 501 is not limited to a cylindrical shape. For example,when the connection portion between the outlet channel 511 and thesealing surface 505 has a funnel shape, air bubbles in the fluid chamber501 (to be described later) are easily discharged.

The fluid ejection tube 200 is connected to the outlet channel tube 510.The connection channel 201 is drilled in the fluid ejection tube 200,and the diameter of the connection channel 201 is larger than that ofthe outlet channel 511. In addition, the tube thickness of the fluidejection tube 200 is formed so as to have a range of rigidity in whichthe fluid ejection tube 200 does not absorb pressure pulsation of thefluid.

The nozzle 211 is inserted into the tip end portion of the fluidejection tube 200. A fluid ejection opening 212 is drilled in the nozzle211. The diameter of the fluid ejection opening 212 is smaller than thatof the connection channel 201.

An inlet channel tube 502 is provided in such a manner as to protrudefrom a side surface of the upper case 500, and is inserted into theconnection tube 25 through which the fluid is supplied from the pump700. A connection channel 504 for the inlet channel is drilled in theinlet channel tube 502. The connection channel 504 communicates with aninlet channel 503. The inlet channel 503 is formed in a groove shape ina circumferential edge portion of the sealing surface 505 of the fluidchamber 501, and communicates with the fluid chamber 501.

A packing box 304 and a packing box 506 are respectively formed in thebonded surfaces of the lower case 301 and the upper case 500 atpositions separated from an outer circumferential direction of thediaphragm 400, and a ring-shaped packing 450 is mounted in a spaceformed by the packing boxes 304 and 506.

Here, when the upper case 500 and the lower case 301 are assembledtogether, the circumferential edge portion of the diaphragm 400 is inclose contact with a circumferential edge portion of the reinforcementplate 410 due to the circumferential edge portion of the sealing surface505 of the upper case 500 and the bottom surface of the concave portion303 of the lower case 301. At this time, the packing 450 is pressed bythe upper case 500 and the lower case 301, and thereby the fluid isprevented from leaking from the fluid chamber 501.

Since the inner pressure of the fluid chamber 501 becomes a highpressure of 30 atm (3 MPa) or greater during the discharge of the fluid,the fluid may slightly leak from the respective connections between thediaphragm 400, the reinforcement plate 410, the upper case 500, and thelower case 301; however, the leakage of the fluid is prevented due tothe packing 450.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, in the case where the packing 450 is provided,since the packing 450 is compressed due to the pressure of the fluidleaking from the fluid chamber 501 at a high pressure, and is stronglypressed against the respective walls of the packing boxes 304 and 506,it is possible to more reliably prevent the leakage of the fluid. Forthis reason, it is possible to maintain a considerable increase in theinner pressure of the fluid chamber 501 during the driving of thepulsation generator 100.

Subsequently, the inlet channel 503 formed in the upper case 500 will bedescribed with reference to the drawings in more detail.

FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating the shape of the inlet channel 503.FIG. 6 illustrates the shape of the upper case 500 when the surface ofthe upper case 500 bonded to the lower case 301 is seen.

In FIG. 6, the inlet channel 503 is formed in a groove shape in thecircumferential edge portion of the sealing surface 505 of the uppercase 500.

One end portion of the inlet channel 503 communicates with the fluidchamber 501, and the other end portion communicates with the connectionchannel 504. A fluid sump 507 is formed in a connection portion betweenthe inlet channel 503 and the connection channel 504. A connectionportion between the fluid sump 507 and the inlet channel 503 is smoothlyrounded, and thereby fluid resistance is reduced.

The inlet channel 503 communicates with the fluid chamber 501 in asubstantially tangential direction with respect to an innercircumferential side wall 501 a of the fluid chamber 501. The fluidsupplied from the pump 700 (refer to FIG. 1) at a predetermined pressureflows along the inner circumferential side wall 501 a (in a directionillustrated by the arrow in FIG. 6), and generates a swirl flow in thefluid chamber 501. The swirl flow is pushed against the innercircumferential side wall 501 a due to a centrifugal force associatedwith the swirling of the fluid, and air bubbles in the fluid chamber 501are concentrated in a center portion of the swirl flow.

The air bubbles concentrated in the center portion are discharged viathe outlet channel 511. For this reason, the outlet channel 511 ispreferably provided in the vicinity of the center of the swirl flow,that is, in an axial center portion of a rotor shape.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the inlet channel 503 is curved. The inletchannel 503 may communicate with the fluid chamber 501 while not beingcurved but being linearly formed; however, when the inlet channel 503 iscurved, a channel length is increased, and a desired inertance (to bedescribed later) is obtained in a small space.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the reinforcement plate 410 is providedbetween the diaphragm 400 and the circumferential edge portion of thesealing surface 505, in which the inlet channel 503 is formed. Thereinforcement plate 410 is provided so as to improve the durability ofthe diaphragm 400. Since a cut-out connection opening 509 is formed in aconnection portion between the inlet channel 503 and the fluid chamber501, when the diaphragm 400 is driven at a high frequency, stress may beconcentrated in the vicinity of the connection opening 509, and therebya fatigue failure may occur in the vicinity of the connection opening509. It is possible to prevent stress from being concentrated on thediaphragm. 400 by providing the reinforcement plate 410 with an openingnot having a cut-out portion and being continuously formed.

Four screw holes 500 a are respectively provided in outercircumferential corner portions of the upper case 500, and the uppercase 500 and the lower case 301 are bonded to each other via screwing atthe positions of the screw holes.

It is possible to firmly fix the reinforcement plate 410 and thediaphragm 400 in an integrally stacked state by bonding together thereinforcement plate 410 and the diaphragm 400, which is not illustrated.An adhesive method using an adhesive, a solid-state diffusion bondingmethod, a welding method, or the like may be used so as to firmly fixtogether the reinforcement plate 410 and the diaphragm 400; however, therespective bonded surfaces of the reinforcement plate 410 and thediaphragm 400 are preferably in close contact with each other.

Operation of Pulsation Generator

Subsequently, an operation of the pulsation generator 100 according tothe embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. Thepulsation generator 100 according to the embodiment discharges the fluiddue to a difference between an inertance L1 (may be referred to as acombined inertance L1) of the inlet channel 503 and the peripherals andan inertance L2 (may be referred to as a combined inertance L2) of theoutlet channel 511 and the peripherals.

Inertance

First, the inertance will be described.

An inertance L is expressed by L=ρ×h/S, and here, ρ is the density of afluid, S is the cross-sectional area of a channel, and h is a channellength. When ΔP is a differential pressure of the channel, and Q is aflow rate of the fluid flowing through the channel, it is possible todeduce a relationship ΔP=L×dQ/dt by modifying an equation of motion inthe channel using the inertance L.

That is, the inertance L indicates a degree of influence on a change inflow rate with time, and a change in flow rate with time decreases tothe extent that the inertance L is large, and a change in flow rate withtime increases to the extent that the inertance L is small.

Similar to a parallel connection or a series connection of inductancesin an electric circuit, it is possible to calculate a combined inertancewith respect to a parallel connection of a plurality of channels or aseries connection of a plurality of channels having different shapes bycombining an inertance of each of the channels.

Since the diameter of the connection channel 504 is set to be largermuch than that of the inlet channel 503, the inertance L1 of the inletchannel 503 and the peripherals can be calculated from a boundary of theinlet channel 503. At this time, since the connection tube 25 thatconnects the pump 700 and the inlet channel 503 is flexible, theconnection tube 25 may not be taken into consideration in calculatingthe inertance L1.

Since the diameter of the connection channel 201 is larger much thanthat of the outlet channel 511, and the tube (tube wall) thickness ofthe fluid ejection tube 200 is thin, the connection tube 25 and thefluid ejection device 1 have a negligible influence on the inertance L2of the outlet channel 511 and the peripherals. Accordingly, theinertance L2 of the outlet channel 511 and the peripherals may bereplaced with an inertance of the outlet channel 511.

The rigidity of the tube wall thickness of the fluid ejection tube 200is sufficient to propagate the pressure of the fluid.

In the embodiment, a channel length and a cross-sectional area of theinlet channel 503 and a channel length and a cross-sectional area of theoutlet channel 511 are set in such a manner that the inertance L1 of theinlet channel 503 and the peripherals are greater than the inertance L2of the outlet channel 511 and the peripherals.

Ejection of Fluid

Subsequently, an operation of the pulsation generator 100 will bedescribed.

The pump 700 supplies the fluid to the inlet channel 503 at apredetermined pressure. As a result, when the piezoelectric element 401is not operated, the fluid flows into the fluid chamber 501 due to adifference between a discharge force of the pump 700 and a fluidresistance value for the entirety of the inlet channel 503 and theperipherals.

Here, in a case where the inertance L1 of the inlet channel 503 and theperipherals and the inertance L2 of the outlet channel 511 and theperipherals are considerably large, when a drive signal is input to thepiezoelectric element 401, and the piezoelectric element 401 extendsrapidly, the inner pressure of the fluid chamber 501 increases rapidly,and reaches several tens of atmosphere.

Since the inner pressure of the fluid chamber 501 is larger much thanthe pressure applied to the inlet channel 503 by the pump 700, the flowof the fluid from the inlet channel 503 to the fluid chamber 501decreases due to the pressure, and the flow of the fluid out of theoutlet channel 511 increases.

Since the inertance L1 of the inlet channel 503 is larger than theinertance L2 of the outlet channel 511, an increase in a flow rate ofthe fluid discharged from the outlet channel 511 is larger than adecrease in a flow rate of the fluid flowing from the inlet channel 503into the fluid chamber 501. Accordingly, the fluid is discharged in theform of a pulsed flow to the connection channel 201, that is, a pulsedflow occurs. Discharge pressure pulsation propagates in the fluidejection tube 200, and the fluid is ejected via the fluid ejectionopening 212 of the nozzle 211 at the tip end.

Here, since the diameter of the fluid ejection opening 212 of the nozzle211 is smaller than that of the outlet channel 511, a pulsed flow of thefluid is ejected as droplets at a higher pressure and speed.

In contrast, immediately after a pressure increase, the inner pressureof the fluid chamber 501 becomes negative due to interaction between adecrease in the amount of inflow of the fluid from the inlet channel 503and an increase in the amount of outflow of the fluid from the outletchannel 511. As a result, after a predetermined amount of time haselapsed, due to both of the pressure of the pump 700 and the negativeinner pressure of the fluid chamber 501, the fluid flows from the inletchannel 503 into the fluid chamber 501 again at the same speed as thatbefore the operation of the piezoelectric element 401.

When the piezoelectric element 401 extends after the flow of the fluidfrom the inlet channel 503 is restored, it is possible to continuouslyeject the fluid in the form of a pulsed flow via the nozzle 211.

Discharge of Air Bubbles

Subsequently, an operation of discharging air bubbles from the fluidchamber 501 will be described.

As described above, the inlet channel 503 communicates with the fluidchamber 501 via a path that approaches the fluid chamber 501 whileswirling around the fluid chamber 501. The outlet channel 511 is providein the vicinity of a rotational axis of a substantially rotor-shapedfluid chamber 501.

For this reason, the fluid flowing from the inlet channel 503 into thefluid chamber 501 swirls along the inner circumferential side wall 501 aof the fluid chamber 501. The fluid is pushed against the innercircumferential side wall 501 a of the fluid chamber 501 due to acentrifugal force, and air bubbles contained in the fluid areconcentrated in the center portion of the fluid chamber 501, and aredischarged via the outlet channel 511.

Accordingly, even when a small amount of the volume of the fluid chamber501 is changed in association with the operation of the piezoelectricelement 401, it is possible to obtain a sufficient pressure increasewhile a pressure pulsation is not adversely affected by the air bubbles.

In the embodiment, since the pump 700 supplies the fluid to the inletchannel 503 at a predetermined pressure, even when the driving of thepulsation generator 100 is stopped, the fluid is supplied to the inletchannel 503 and the fluid chamber 501. Accordingly, it is possible tostart an initial operation without an aid of a prime operation.

Since the fluid is ejected via the fluid ejection opening 212 having adiameter smaller than that of the outlet channel 511, an inner fluidpressure increases higher than that of the outlet channel 511, andthereby it is possible to eject the fluid at a high speed.

Since the rigidity of the fluid ejection tube 200 is sufficient totransmit a pulsation of the fluid from the fluid chamber 501 to thefluid ejection opening 212, it is possible to eject the fluid in theform of a desired pulsed flow without disturbing pressure propagation ofthe fluid from the pulsation generator 100.

Since the inertance of the inlet channel 503 is set to be larger thanthat of the outlet channel 511, an increase in the amount of outflow ofthe fluid from the outlet channel 511 is larger than a decrease in theamount of inflow of the fluid from the inlet channel 503 into the fluidchamber 501, and it is possible to discharge the fluid into the fluidejection tube 200 in the form of a pulsed flow. Accordingly, a checkvalve is not required to be provided in the inlet channel 503, it ispossible to simplify the structure of the pulsation generator 100, it iseasy to clean the inside of the pulsation generator 100, and it ispossible to remove a potential durability problem associated with theuse of the check valve.

Since the respective inertances of both of the inlet channel 503 and theoutlet channel 511 are set to be considerably large, it is possible torapidly increase the inner pressure of the fluid chamber 501 by rapidlyreducing the volume of the fluid chamber 501.

Since the piezoelectric element 401 as a volume change unit and thediaphragm 400 are configured so as to generate a pulsation, it ispossible to simplify the structure of the pulsation generator 100 and toreduce the size of the pulsation generator 100 in association therewith.It is possible to set the maximum frequency of a change in the volume ofthe fluid chamber 501 to a high frequency of 1 KHz or greater, and thepulsation generator 100 is optimized to eject a pulsed flow of the fluidat a high speed.

In the pulsation generator 100, since the inlet channel 503 generates aswirl flow of the fluid in the fluid chamber 501, the fluid in the fluidchamber 501 is pushed in an outer circumferential direction of the fluidchamber 501 due to a centrifugal force, air bubbles contained in thefluid are concentrated in the center portion of the swirl flow, that is,in the vicinity of the axis of the substantially rotor shape, andthereby it is possible to discharge the air bubbles via the outletchannel 511 provided in the vicinity of the axis of the substantiallyrotor shape. For this reason, it is possible to prevent a decrease inpressure amplitude associated with the stagnation of air bubbles in thefluid chamber 501, and it is possible to continuously and stably drivethe pulsation generator 100.

Since the inlet channel 503 is formed in such a manner as to communicatewith the fluid chamber 501 via the path that approaches the fluidchamber 501 while swirling around the fluid chamber 501, it is possibleto generate a swirl flow without adopting a structure dedicated forswirling the fluid in the fluid chamber 501.

Since the groove-shaped inlet channel 503 is formed in the outercircumferential edge portion of the sealing surface 505 of the fluidchamber 501, it is possible to form the inlet channel 503 (a swirl flowgeneration unit) without increasing the number of components.

Since the reinforcement plate 410 is provided on the upper surface ofthe diaphragm 400, the diaphragm 400 is driven with respect to an outercircumference (a fulcrum) of the opening of the reinforcement plate 410,and thereby the concentration of stress is unlikely to occur, and it ispossible to improve the durability of the diaphragm 400.

When corners of the surface of the reinforcement plate 410 bonded to thediaphragm 400 are rounded, it is possible to further reduce theconcentration of stress on the diaphragm 400.

When the reinforcement plate 410 and the diaphragm 400 are firmly andintegrally fixed together while being stacked on each other, it ispossible to improve the assemblability of the pulsation generator 100,and it is possible to reinforce the outer circumferential edge portionof the diaphragm 400.

Since the fluid sump 507 for the stagnation of the fluid is provided inthe connection portion between the connection channel 504 on an inletside for supplying the fluid from the pump 700 and the inlet channel503, it is possible to prevent the inertance of the connection channel504 from affecting the inlet channel 503.

In the respective bonded surfaces of the lower case 301 and the uppercase 500, the ring-shaped packing 450 is provided at the positionseparated from the outer circumferential direction of the diaphragm 400,and thereby it is possible to prevent the leakage of the fluid from thefluid chamber 501, and to prevent a decrease in the inner pressure ofthe fluid chamber 501.

Control of Inner Pressure of Fluid Container 760

FIG. 7 is a graph illustrating a transition of the inner pressure of thefluid container 760 when a pressure control operation is performed. FIG.7 illustrates a pressure P (on a vertical axis) with respect to a time t(on a horizontal axis). The pressure P illustrated here indicates theinner pressure of the fluid container 760 (hereinafter, the innerpressure of the fluid chamber 760 may be simply referred to as the“pressure P”), which is detected by the pressure sensor 722. FIG. 7illustrates a target pressure Pt, a pressure R1, a pressure F1 higherthan the pressure R1, a pressure F2 higher than the pressure F1 and thetarget pressure, and a pressure R2 higher than the pressure F2. A roughwindow indicates a range from the pressure R1 to the pressure R2. A finewindow indicates a range from the pressure F1 to the pressure F2.

An outline of the fluid ejection device 1 according to the embodimentwill be described. The drive control unit 600 of the fluid ejectiondevice 1 controls the ejection of the fluid from the pulsation generator100. The pump control unit 710 of the fluid ejection device 1 controlsthe inner pressure of the fluid container 760.

When the inner pressure P of the fluid container 760 is higher than thepressure R1 and is lower than the pressure R2, the drive control unit600 receives a demand for the ejection of the fluid from the pulsationgenerator start-up switch (not illustrated), and controls the pulsationgenerator 100 to eject the fluid. That is, when the pressure P is in therough window, the fluid is ejected. Even in the case where the pressureP is higher than the pressure R1 and is lower than the pressure R2, whenthe fluid ejection device 1 is in a trial mode (equivalent to a secondejection mode) (to be described later), the fluid is ejected, which isan exceptional case. At this time, the pump control unit 710 does notcontrol the pressure of the fluid container 760, and sends a constantamount of the fluid from the fluid container 760 to the pulsationgenerator 100.

In a pressure adjustment control operation (to be described later), thepump control unit 710 performs a rough pressure increase adjustmentcontrol operation when the pressure P is the pressure R1 or lower. Whenthe pressure P is higher than the pressure R1, and is the pressure F1 orlower, the pump control unit 710 performs a fine pressure increaseadjustment control operation. When the pressure P is higher than thepressure F1 and is lower than the pressure F2 (in the fine window), thepump control unit 710 does not perform a pressure adjustment operation.When the pressure P is the pressure F2 or higher, the pump control unit710 performs a fine pressure decrease adjustment control operation. Whenthe pump control unit 710 performs the pressure adjustment controloperation, the drive control unit 600 controls the pulsation generator100 not to eject the fluid.

Hereinafter, the pressure adjustment control operation will bedescribed. In the following description, the inner pressure P of thefluid container 760 is detected by the pressure sensor 722, and the pumpcontrol unit 710 performs the pressure adjustment control operation inresponse to the pressure P.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the pressure adjustment control operation. Whenthe pulsation generator start-up switch is not pushed, the pressureadjustment control operation is performed every 20 ms.

The pump control unit 710 determines whether the pressure P of the fluidcontainer 760 is higher than the pressure F1 and is lower than thepressure F2 (S102). When the pressure P is higher than the pressure F1and is lower than the pressure F2, the pressure adjustment controloperation ends. As such, when the pressure P is higher than the pressureF1 and is lower than the pressure F2, the pressure adjustment controloperation is not performed, and thereby it is possible to prevent thepressure control operation from being uselessly performed, and toprevent an increase in pressure change.

In contrast, in step S102, when it is not satisfied that the pressure Pis higher than the pressure F1 and is lower than the pressure F2, thepump control unit 710 determines whether the pressure P is the pressureF2 or higher (S104). When the pressure P is the pressure F2 or higher,the pump control unit 710 performs the fine pressure decrease adjustmentcontrol operation (S106).

Hereinafter, the fine pressure decrease adjustment control operationwill be described. The pump control unit 710 according to the embodimentcan control the motor 730 to continuously move the slider 720 at apredetermined speed, and can control the motor 730 to move the slider720 by a very small distance. The motor 730 is controlled to rotate by aminimum unit so as to move the slider 720 by the very small distance. Inthe fine pressure decrease adjustment control operation, the pumpcontrol unit 710 moves the slider 720 toward the second limit sensor 744by the very small distance. As a result, due to the inner pressure ofthe fluid container 760, the plunger 762 moves by the very smalldistance in an increase direction of the inner volume of the fluidaccommodation portion 765. Accordingly, the inner pressure of the fluidcontainer 760 decreases by a very small amount of pressure.

In step S104, when the pressure P is not the pressure F2 or higher, thepump control unit 710 determines whether the pressure P is higher thanthe pressure R1 and is the pressure F1 or lower (S108). When thepressure P is higher than the pressure R1 and is the pressure F1 orlower, the pump control unit 710 performs the fine pressure increaseadjustment control operation (S110).

Hereinafter, the fine pressure increase adjustment control operationwill be described. In the fine pressure increase adjustment controloperation, the pump control unit 710 moves the slider 720 toward thefirst limit sensor 741 by a very small distance. The plunger 762 movesin a decrease direction of the inner volume of the fluid accommodationportion 765 of the fluid container 760. Accordingly, the inner pressureof the fluid container 760 increases by a very small amount of pressure.

In step S108, when it is not satisfied that the pressure P is higherthan the pressure R1, and is the pressure F1 or lower, the pump controlunit 710 performs the rough pressure increase adjustment controloperation (S112 to S116). In the rough pressure increase adjustmentcontrol operation, the pump control unit 710 controls the motor 730 tocontinuously move the slider 720 toward the first limit sensor 741.Subsequently, the pump control unit 710 determines whether the pressureP is lower than the target pressure Pt (S114). When the pressure P islower than the target pressure Pt, the pump control unit 710 controlsthe motor 730 to continuously move the slider 720 toward the limitsensor 741 again. In contrast, in step S114, when the pressure P is thetarget pressure Pt or higher, the pump control unit 710 ends themovement of the slider 720. As such, the pressure adjustment controloperation ends.

First, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the rough pressure increase adjustmentoperation is performed in the execution of the above-mentioned pressureadjustment control operation. Accordingly, the pressure P rapidlyincreases to approximately the target pressure Pt. When the pressure Pincreases to the target pressure, the rough pressure increase adjustmentcontrol operation ends. While the pressure P is between the pressure F1and the pressure F2, a particular pressure adjustment operation is notperformed.

Thereafter, the pressure P decreases gradually due to the gasket 763.When the pressure P decreases to the pressure F1 or lower, the finepressure increase adjustment operation is performed. Since the finepressure increase adjustment control operation is performed so as tomove the slider 720 by the very small distance, and to increase thepressure by the very small amount of pressure as described above, thepressure P stays at approximately the target pressure Pt.

When the pressure P exceeds the pressure F1, the pressure controloperation is stopped. Accordingly, due to the gasket 763, the pressure Pdecreases gradually again. Thereafter, similarly as described above, thefine pressure increase adjustment operation is performed. Theseprocesses are repeated, and thereby the pressure P is stabilized atapproximately the target pressure Pt.

The reason that the pressure adjustment control operation is performedas described above is as follows. That is, when the pressure P is thepressure R1 or lower, it is necessary to rapidly increase the pressure Pto approximately the target pressure Pt from a pressure at which thefluid cannot be properly ejected. For this reason, when the pressure Pis the pressure R1 or lower, the pump control unit 710 rapidly increasesthe pressure via the rough pressure increase adjustment controloperation.

When the pressure P is higher than the pressure R1, and is the pressureF1 or lower, the pressure has already increased to a level in which thefluid can be ejected. For this reason, the pressure may increase by avery small amount of pressure absorbed by the gasket 763. Accordingly,when the pressure P is higher than the pressure R1, and is the pressureF1 or lower, the pressure is finely adjusted via the fine pressureincrease adjustment control operation.

When the pressure P is higher than the pressure F1 and is lower than thepressure F2, the pressure P is very close to the target pressure Pt.When the pump control unit 710 controls the inner pressure of the fluidcontainer 760 containing the gasket 763 in high friction contact withthe syringe 761, a control delay may occur, and the pressure may beseverely changed during the adjustment control operation of the pressureP. Accordingly, when the pressure P is higher than the pressure F1 andis lower than the pressure F2, the pressure control operation isstopped.

In this manner, it is possible to rapidly increase the pressure P to thetarget pressure Pt, and after the pressure P increases to approximatelythe target pressure Pt, it is possible to maintain the pressure P atapproximately the target pressure Pt via the fine pressure increaseadjustment control operation. Since it is possible to maintain thepressure P at approximately the target pressure Pt immediately beforethe fluid is ejected, when there is a demand for the ejection of thefluid present, it is possible to immediately send the fluid to thepulsation generator 100 at a proper pressure.

Subsequently, the ejection control operation will be described.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the ejection control operation.

The drive control unit 600 determines whether the pulsation generatorstart-up switch (not illustrated) is turned on (S202). The pulsationgenerator start-up switch is a unit such as a foot switch that isconnected to the drive control unit 600, and outputs a demand for theejection of the fluid to the drive control unit 600 when the pulsationgenerator start-up switch is turned on. In step S202, when the pulsationgenerator start-up switch is not turned on, the drive control unit 600re-determines whether the pulsation generator start-up switch is turnedon. Accordingly, a loop for waiting for the turning on of the pulsationgenerator start-up switch is established.

In step S202, when the pulsation generator start-up switch is turned on,the drive control unit 600 inquires of the pump control unit 710 whetherthe pressure adjustment control operation is performed (S204). When thepressure adjustment control operation is performed, the drive controlunit 600 determines whether timeout occurs (S220). The timeout indicateswhen 500 ms has elapsed after the pulsation generator start-up switch isturned on and then the count up starts.

When the timeout does not occur, the drive control unit 600 performsstep S204 again. In contrast, when the timeout occurs, the drive controlunit 600 reports an error (S222). In regard to a technique of reportingan error, it is possible to display a message indicative of anoccurrence of an error on a display device (not illustrated), or togenerate a sound indicative of an occurrence of an error.

In step S204, when it is determined that the pressure adjustment controloperation is not performed, the drive control unit 600 determineswhether the pressure P is higher than the pressure R1 and is lower thanthe pressure R2 (S206). In step S206, when it is not satisfied that thepressure P is higher than the pressure R1 and is lower than the pressureR2, the drive control unit 600 determines whether the fluid ejectiondevice 1 is in a trial mode (S218).

The fluid ejection device 1 according to the embodiment has two ejectionmodes such as a normal mode (equivalent to a first ejection mode) andthe trial mode (equivalent to the second ejection mode). In the normalmode, the fluid is allowed to be ejected only when the pressure P ishigher than the pressure R1 and is lower than the pressure R2. Incontrast, in a case where the ejection mode is set to the trial mode,even when it is not satisfied that the pressure P is higher than thepressure R1 and is lower than the pressure R2, the fluid is allowed tobe ejected.

As such, it is possible to eject the fluid at a proper pressure by usingthe fluid ejection device 1 in the normal mode during an operation, andin contrast, it is possible to confirm a fluid ejection operation of thefluid ejection device 1 by using the fluid ejection device 1 in thetrail mode.

For example, in regard to a technique of switching the ejection mode, itis possible to switch the ejection mode between the normal mode and thetrial mode via a switch (not illustrated). The ejection mode may beautomatically switched to the trial mode immediately after the ejectionintensity switching switch is switched. The ejection mode may beautomatically switched to the trial mode immediately after thedeaeriation process (flushing operation) is performed. The ejection modemay be automatically switched to the trial mode immediately after thepriming operation is performed.

The ejection mode may be automatically switched to the trial mode inresponse to the pressure P. That is, the ejection mode may beautomatically switched to the trial mode when it is not satisfied thatthe pressure P is higher than the pressure R1 and is lower than thepressure R2.

In step S218, when it is determined that the ejection mode is not thetrial mode, step S220 is executed.

In contrast, in step S218, when it is determined that the ejection modeis the trial mode, or in step S206, when it is determined that thepressure P is higher than the pressure R1 and is lower than the pressureR2, the drive control unit 600 instructs the pump control unit 710 toopen the pinch valve 750 (S208). The pump control unit 710 moves theslider 720 in a direction in which the plunger 762 is pushed atsubstantially the same time as when the pinch valve 750 is opened.

Subsequently, the drive control unit 600 determines whether thepulsation generator start-up switch is continuously turned on (S212).When the pulsation generator start-up switch is continuously turned on,the process returns to step S212 again. This loop is repeated, andthereby it is possible to send the fluid to the pulsation generator 100and to eject the fluid from the pulsation generator 100.

When the fluid is ejected in step S212, and the ejection mode is thetrial mode, a message indicative of the trial mode is reported via areporting device (not illustrated). In regard to a reporting techniquevia the reporting device, it is possible to display a message indicativeof the trial mode, or to generate a predetermined alarm sound.

In step S212, when the pulsation generator start-up switch is turnedoff, the drive control unit 600 instructs the pump control unit 710 tostop the movement of the slider 720 (S214). At substantially the sametime, the drive control unit 600 instructs the pump control unit 710 toclose the pinch valve 750 (S216). Accordingly, the control of theejection of the fluid is completed.

In a case where the ejection mode is the normal mode, when the pump 700is controlled in order for the pressure P to approach the targetpressure Pt, and the pressure P is higher than the pressure R1, thedrive control unit 600 receives a demand for the ejection of the fluid,and thereby it is possible to reduce an amount of time taken from thereception of the demand for the ejection of the fluid to the ejection ofthe fluid.

In contrast, in a case where the ejection mode is the trial mode, evenwhen the pump 700 is controlled in order for the pressure P to approachthe target pressure Pt, and the pressure P is not closer to the targetpressure Pt than the pressure R1, the drive control unit 600 receives ademand for the ejection of the fluid, and thereby it is possible toeject the fluid in the trial mode.

Another Embodiment

In the example of the embodiment, the fluid ejection device 1 is appliedto an operation scalpel used to incise or excise living tissue; however,the invention is not limited to the embodiment, and can be applied toother medical tools for excision, cleaning, or the like. Specifically,the fluid ejection device 1 can be used to clean a fine object orstructure.

In the embodiment, the fluid is ejected by using the piezoelectricelement; however, a laser bubble method may be adopted by which a fluidin a pressure chamber is powerfully ejected by generating bubbles in thefluid in the pressure chamber with a laser beam. A heater bubble methodmay be adopted by which a fluid in a pressure chamber is powerfullyejected by generating bubbles in the fluid in the pressure chamber witha heater.

In the embodiment, the fluid is ejected in the form of a pulsed flow;however, the fluid may be continuously ejected. When the fluid container760 is formed of an infusion solution bag that accommodates a fluid, itis possible to perform the rough pressure increase adjustment controloperation, the fine pressure increase adjustment control operation, andthe fine pressure decrease adjustment control operation as follows. Thatis, in the rough pressure increase adjustment control operation, air ispressure-fed to the pressurized chamber 800 by continuously operatingthe compressor 810. In the fine pressure increase adjustment controloperation, air is pressure-fed to the pressurized chamber 800 byoperating the compressor 810 for a very small amount of time. In thefine pressure decrease adjustment control operation, the pressure of thepressurized chamber 800 decreases by a very small amount of pressure byopening the air vent valve 812 for a very small amount of time.

The embodiment is given to help understanding the invention, and theinterpretation of the invention is not limited to the embodiment.Modifications or improvements can be made to the invention insofar asthe modifications or the improvements do not depart from the spirit ofthe invention, and the invention includes the equivalent.

What is claimed is:
 1. A fluid ejection device comprising: a fluidejection unit that ejects a fluid; an ejection control unit thatcontrols the ejection of the fluid from the fluid ejection unit; a fluidcontainer that accommodates the fluid to be supplied to the fluidejection unit; and a pressure adjustment unit that adjusts an innerpressure of the fluid container in such a manner that the inner pressureof the fluid container gets closer to a target pressure than a firstthreshold value for the inner pressure of the fluid container, whereinthe ejection control unit has a first ejection mode and a secondejection mode as ejection modes, and in the first ejection mode, whenthe inner pressure of the fluid container is closer to the targetpressure than a second threshold value separated from the targetpressure further than the first threshold value, the ejection controlunit receives a demand for the ejection of the fluid, and in the secondejection mode, even when the inner pressure of the fluid container isnot closer to the target pressure than the second threshold value, theejection control unit receives a demand for the ejection of the fluid.2. The fluid ejection device according to claim 1, further comprising areporting device configured to report that the ejection control unitreceives a demand for the ejection of the fluid in the second ejectionmode.
 3. The fluid ejection device according to claim 1, furthercomprising a switch that switches an ejection mode between the firstejection mode and the second ejection mode.
 4. The fluid ejection deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein when the inner pressure of the fluidcontainer is not closer to the target pressure than the second thresholdvalue, the ejection mode is switched to the second ejection mode.
 5. Thefluid ejection device according to claim 1, wherein after at least oneof an operation of filling the fluid ejection unit with the fluid, adeaeration operation of the fluid ejection unit, and a fluid ejectionintensity change operation of the fluid ejection unit is performed, theejection mode is switched to the second ejection mode.
 6. The fluidejection device according to claim 1, wherein in a state where the innerpressure of the fluid container is lower than the target pressure, whenthe inner pressure of the fluid container is separated from the targetpressure by the second threshold value or greater, the pressureadjustment unit performs a first pressure increase control operation inwhich the pressure adjustment unit increases the inner pressure byreducing the inner volume of the fluid container by a first amount, andwhen the inner pressure of the fluid container is closer to the targetpressure than the second threshold value, and is separated from thetarget pressure by the first threshold value or greater, the pressureadjustment unit performs a second pressure increase control operation inwhich the pressure adjustment unit increases the inner pressure byreducing the inner volume of the fluid container by a second amount lessthan the first amount.
 7. The fluid ejection device according to claim1, further comprising: a connection channel that connects the fluidejection unit and the fluid container, and acts as a channel throughwhich the fluid flows; and an opening and closing unit that iscontrolled to open and close the connection channel by the pressureadjustment unit, wherein when the ejection control unit receives ademand for the ejection of the fluid, the pressure adjustment unitcontrols the opening and closing unit to open the connection channel,and stops the adjustment of the inner pressure of the fluid container.8. The fluid ejection device according to claim 7, wherein when theejection control unit receives a demand for the ejection of the fluid,the pressure adjustment unit supplies the fluid to the fluid ejectionunit by controlling the opening and closing unit to open the connectionchannel and reducing the inner volume of the fluid container by apredetermined amount each time.